In Delhi’s Rangpuri Pahari slum, thousands of migrant workers live hand-to-mouth, many in unorganized roles from domestic help to construction labor. A nationwide exercise, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), began on 4 November across 12 states and union territories, aiming to overhaul electoral rolls for about 510 million voters. The Election Commission (EC) says the goal is to ensure no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible name remains, but the scale and speed have sparked anxiety among those who cannot easily take time off work.
Many migrants fear losing wages if they travel home to enroll or verify details, since employers often grant leave only during elections or festivals. Anjali Mondol, a domestic worker, puts it plainly: “If I take leave now, I will lose my salary. I can’t afford that, and someone else could replace me.” The fear is amplified by the logistical burden: some migrants save to travel home later, only to risk seeing their plans upended if the SIR requires earlier action.
Document gaps complicate enrollment. Some workers hold Aadhaar cards that list them as residents of a different state, raising questions about eligibility and place of voting. Kusum Devi, registered in Uttar Pradesh but whose Aadhaar shows Delhi, exemplifies the confusion, worried about possible implications of misaligned IDs. The EC says online verification is available for those away from home, and physical forms can be filled by the elector or an adult relative, but many migrants remain unfamiliar with the process or wary of privacy and security concerns.
The process hinges on rolls from 2002–2004 as a reference, with special rules: those not on those lists must produce supporting documents—birth or caste certificates, passports, school records, or bank papers—to enroll; those who became eligible after the reference year must show documents for one or both parents. An EC order on 27 October notes that “No document is to be collected from electors during the enumeration phase,” adding to the confusion about what verification entails and when it will be complete.
The tension is not purely administrative. In West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border, fears of being misidentified as illegal migrants persist amid broader crackdowns. “Nobody wants to be wrongfully branded as Bangladeshi,” says a worker who sells utensils, highlighting the citizenship stakes that accompany a nationwide roll clean-up. Trade unions echo this worry: lack of awareness and time constraints could leave migrant workers disenfranchised at a moment when elections loom in some states within months and others not until 2027.
Supporters argue SIR is a one-time, corrective measure, while critics warn it may disrupt welfare access and voting for those with tenuous job security and mobility. The EC contends it will provide ample time and opportunities to file claims or objections, and that online options are designed for those away from residence. In the meantime, migrants like Ramdhin Prajapati see it as a “one-time effort” they are willing to make, even as others worry about the near-term consequences of travel, documentation, and potential misclassification.
